by Justin Farrar

Classic Rock Vault, Vol. 3

by Justin Farrar
|
August 2, 2013

This time around, Rhapsody's Classic Rock Vault gets bluesy, moody, smoky and soulful. We kick off with a pair of Beatles-related cuts. First up is John Lennon and The Plastic Ono Band's snarling, dirge-like ["Yer Blues,"] from the [Live Peace in Toronto 1969] album (and yes, that's Eric Clapton shredding all over the place). After that, soul great Wilson Pickett and guitarist Duane Allman invent Southern rock with their Muscle Shoals-recorded rendition of ["Hey Jude,"] originally released as a single in 1969.

Mixed into all this Southern-fried goodness is a heaping spoonful of classic British blues rock. Ten Years After's "Hear Me Calling," from the 1969 album Stonedhenge (stoner alert!), is a train that eventually jumps the rails in a fit of chugging ecstasy. And don't overlook The Groundhogs and the [title track] to their harrowing, anti-war masterpiece [Thank Christ for the Bomb] -- a profound and emotional tune.